How do hashtags impact history? The use of social media in the 2024 Bangladeshi Gen Z revolution

To raise awareness of the impacts of social media use in promoting social well-being for the greater good, this longitudinal research investigates how Facebook was used by protesters in the July 2024 Gen Z revolution in Bangladesh. Specifically, we examined the content, prevalence, and nature of user behaviors during six stages of the event by collecting Facebook posts (n = 2,095) and comments (n = 420,412) with the relevant hashtags (n = 42). Through a thematic content analysis of 5,174 comments, we found that the content shifted over time, from reforming quota, to reforming government, to reforming Bangladesh. Humorous trolling comments dominated posts targeting the government, while serious non-trolling comments supported the protesters. This study contributes to a nuanced understanding of the changes over time in the content, the nature and the prevalence of political trolling, demonstrating the complex dynamics of technology, social media, and human interactions.